Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 - niobate nanosheet composites

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2013 · Journal of Materials Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2012.357· OSTI ID:1078154

Liu, Jian ^[1]; Nichols, Eric ^[1]; Howe, Jane Y ^[2]; Misture, S T ^[1]

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1. Alfred University
2. ORNL

Protonized niobate nanosheets H1.8Bi0.2CaNaNb3O10 were synthesized using a new, organic-free simultaneous ion-exchange and exfoliation process from the Aurivillius phase Bi2CaNaNb3O12. Nanosheet/TiO2 composites were prepared by thermal treatment of physical mixtures of commercially available anatase TiO2 and the nanosheet suspension. Methylene blue dye degradation studies for the composite show a clear correlation between the methylene blue surface adsorption and the degradation rate. The composite exhibits strongly enhanced photocatalytic activity as the calcination temperature increases, suggesting the possibility of the charge transfer at BCNN-TiO2 interface and the existence of Nb5+ and O2- acid-base pairs. Both phenomena are attributed to the processing approach, which includes topochemcial dehydration of the BCNN nanosheets during heat treatment.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). High Temperature Materials Lab. (HTML)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1078154
• Journal Information: Journal of Materials Research, Vol. 28, Issue 3; ISSN 0884--2914
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English